College of Arts and Sciences

Hakeem to speak at Mock Election

October 28, 2011

MACOMB, IL -- National Green Party Co-chair Farheen Hakeem will be the keynote speaker for the simulated Green Party National Convention as part of the 2011 Road to the White House Mock Election at Western Illinois University. Hakeem will speak at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 in the University Union Heritage Room.

Hakeem is an educator, feminist activist and community organizer. In a 2005 run for mayor of Minneapolis as a Green Party candidate, she secured 14 percent of the primary vote. Although not voted into office, the campaign made her a nationally-recognized alternative political leader. In a recent race for Minnesota's 61st State Senate district, Hakeem placed second with 22 percent of the vote. Hakeem was elected as co-chair to the National Green Party in August 2009, making her the highest-ranking Muslim woman political officer in any political party in the United States.

The Mock Election at WIU, which stretches over five days, is the nation's largest simulated presidential election. In addition to speaking at the Green Party Convention, Hakeem will speak about the role of Muslim women in politics at 12:45 p.m. Nov. 3 in Morgan Hall 101A. Both events are open free to the public.

For more information, contact WIU Anthropology Professor David Casagrande at (309) 836-5462 or DG-Casagrande@wiu.edu, or Staci Buster of the WIU Campus Greens at SM-Buster@wiu.edu.